Chapter 30. Oh My God!
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"Was it just to forcibly create a tragedy and upset players? Or did Tsubaki Furuhara himself experience some similar pain?" the player continued pressing. "It's hard for me to accept that such a wonderful girl had to be sacrificed."
And it was the only ending.
Upon hearing that, the room fell into a moment of silence.
Everyone could relate.
Including Kiyoshi Yuuma himself.
"Fate."
Just then, a voice rose from the player seats.
Everyone turned to look.
The speaker was a young man, about twenty years old, with rather poor skin, small eyes, a buzz cut, and sharp, raised eyebrows that gave him a slightly fierce look.
Ayase Akane quickly jogged over and handed the microphone to him.
He took it and stood up, answering seriously, "After playing Onmyoji, what struck me the most throughout the game was this feeling—
Fate.
Don't you all think so?
Asakura Haruka's arrival at the Fairy Island might seem like a coincidence, but it was actually destined.
Ten years ago, he had already saved Moon Nation in his role as an Onmyoji—or more precisely, he had saved Yuuki Rei and the other refugees and sent them to the Fairy Island.
It's just that, at the time, he didn't know what the future held.
The Izanagi clan, from the moment they were born, were destined to battle the Yamata no Orochi, sacrificing themselves to seal it. That was their fate.
That was true for Izanagi himself.
And also for Rei's mother.
So from this point of view, Rei's sacrifice was fated from the very beginning.
Or rather, it's exactly this deep sense of fate that makes the story unforgettable, etched into our hearts.
I truly admire and long for this kind of plot.
It's given me a whole new and deeper understanding of galgames.
Ah… So games can be done like this.
Mm… That kind of ending is really breathtaking.
I want to create something like that too—something that can break people's hearts and tear their souls apart."
Uh…
While Kiyoshi Yuuma was thankful to this player for defusing the situation, the second half of that speech made him feel this guy might've misunderstood something important.
"That's exactly right. The reason we feel so devastated… is because the game was too beautifully made."
Another player stood up.
He was small in stature, and although clearly male, he had long bangs covering his eyes, baby fuzz still on his lips, yet he struck cool poses the whole time.
Kiyoshi Yuuma tensed up.
This kid looks super young—was he even 18?
Could it be a middle schooler secretly played a galgame?
"When something ugly is destroyed, we don't care.
But when something beautiful is shattered, that's what truly rips our hearts apart.
That's the greatest truth I learned from Onmyoji." The boy flicked his bangs and said in a deep tone, "So games can be like this too. The destruction of something beautiful can be so… beautiful."
Oi, that's already bordering on cult-like statements, okay?
Kiyoshi Yuuma grumbled internally.
"President, my admiration for Mr. Furuhara is like the sun and moon—endless. He's a genius, especially in scriptwriting." The boy's eyes sparkled.
"Emmm… I'll be sure to pass that on to Mr. Furuhara," Kiyoshi Yuuma shamelessly replied.
All around, the development team members shot him looks full of disdain.
…
After the discussion session ended, Kiyoshi Yuuma felt completely drained.
Honestly, interacting face-to-face with players was more exhausting than actual work.
"Great job, everyone. This forum was a huge success," Kiyoshi Yuuma smiled. "Everyone, head back and get some rest early. Oh, and don't forget to organize today's notes into a report and submit it."
"What?! You're kidding, right?" Groans and wails rose up from the stage.
Kiyoshi Yuuma smiled faintly, but inside, he was overjoyed.
Just then, he looked up and noticed a few players had yet to leave. It seemed they were waiting for a chance to speak with him privately after the crowd dispersed.
Among them were the small-eyed, buzz-cut guy who had helped him out earlier and even resolved a question that had troubled Kiyoshi Yuuma for years, as well as the slightly-too-young-looking "cool" kid.
"Um, did you two still have something you wanted to talk about?" Kiyoshi Yuuma patiently asked.
"I've always dreamed of working in the game industry, especially in scriptwriting," said the buzz-cut guy. "President Kiyoshi, if possible, could you give me a chance?"
"I want to as well," the boy next to him chimed in.
Huh?
Not bad.
Kiyoshi Yuuma broke into a happy grin.
As a game developer, nothing was more rewarding than not only receiving praise from players, but also inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams in gaming. That made everything worth it.
He turned his eyes to the buzz-cut teen, feeling he looked vaguely familiar.
But he just couldn't quite place where he'd seen him before.
"Game development isn't something you can dive into on a whim, you know. There's a big difference between being a player and a developer," Kiyoshi Yuuma said with a polite smile.
"Of course, I know that," the teen nodded. "Actually, I've been writing my own stories in school. If you'd like, I can show them to the President."
Oh? He's serious.
And passionate, too.
Honestly, Kiyoshi Yuuma was deeply moved by his words. It felt like he was looking at a younger version of himself—the kid who grew up, fell in love with games, and vowed to become a game developer someday.
"How old are you?" Kiyoshi Yuuma asked.
"Eighteen. I've already graduated from high school," the buzz-cut teen replied.
In Japan, many people enter the workforce right after high school. Not many go on to college.
At Pokeni, several members like Mika Ishino and Ayase Akane were high school graduates.
Only technical positions like hardware engineer Asakawa Hiroki or programmer Akanishi Ken have required a university degree.
"What's your name?" Kiyoshi Yuuma asked, curious now.
The buzz-cut teen was elated. He stood up and gave Kiyoshi Yuuma a deep bow.
"Urobuchi Gen. Please take care of me."
Huh?!
Kiyoshi Yuuma nearly jumped out of his skin.
Urobuchi Gen, also known as the terrifying "Warrior of Love," was the legendary creator behind Saya no Uta, Fate/Zero, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica... Those "healing" masterpieces.
A bringer of emotional knives, a ruthless and unrelenting swordsman. Both loved and hated by players and viewers alike.
They loved him for elevating game storytelling to unprecedented levels. His wild imagination, emotional depth, and unforgettable twists were his hallmarks.
Kiyoshi Yuuma had also been deeply wounded by his works.
…
"I want to join too," the boy next to him said quickly, worried he'd be forgotten.
"And you are?" Kiyoshi Yuuma asked casually, still mentally lingering on the idea of the "Warrior of Love" joining Pokeni.
"Maeda Jun. I turned 16 today. I'll be graduating high school soon. Please take care of me!" the boy said with a bow.
Ah, this…
…
A cold sweat ran down Kiyoshi Yuuma's back.
Oh my god!
If both the "Warrior of Love" and the "Tear-Jerking Devil" joined Pokeni…
Kiyoshi Yuuma couldn't even imagine what sort of madness that would lead to.
Getting mailed razor blades by angry players might be the least of their worries?!
This pair is just a perfect match for the "healing" genre.